Squeegee having a handle particularly adapted for detachable connection to a brush



3,1 10,052 A HANDLE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR H m R B A mm MN Wm m W 3% HE E mm IA VT mm m G E U ma 9 I 2 1 v 0 N 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1961 FIG:

INVENTOR. HENRY B. WHITMAN ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1963 H. B. WHITMAN 3,110,052

SQUEEGEE HAVING A HANDLE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR DETACHABLE CONNECTION TO A BRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1961 FIG 3 United States Patent 3,110,052 SQUEEGEE HAVING A HANDLE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED F03 DETACHABLE CGN N ECTEON TO A BRUSH Henry B. Whitman, Windsor, Conn, assignor to The Fuller Brush Qompany, East Hartford, Conn, 21 corporation of Connecticut Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,576 1 claim. (Cl. 15 r17 This invention relates to a window cleaning implement comprising a window washing squeegee usable with a brush and it is one object of the invention to provide such an implement wherein the brush and squeegee can be detachably connected together in a more simple and convenient manner than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of the invention involves the provision of a squeegee having a handle which is particularly adapted for detachable but secure connection with a window washing brush and which yet provides a substantially smooth hand-gripping surface well suited to independent manual use of the squeegee.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claim forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an assembled window washing brush and squeegee embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view taken generally as indicated at 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the squeegee alone.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through the squeegee handle as indicated generally at 44 in FIG. 3, background parts being omitted for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but taken as indicated at 5-5 in FIG. 3, background parts again being omitted.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the squeegee handle taken generally as indicated at 6-6inFIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the window washing brush of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the squeegee disconnected therefrom.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the brush and squeegee handle taken generally as indicated at 88 in FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the window cleaning implement shown therein comprises a window washing brush and a squeegee indicated generally at 10 and 12 respectively. The window brush it comprises a mass of bristles or fibers 14 held by a head structure indicated generally at 16 and including a channel 18, a headplate 20, and a head connecting bolt or stud 22.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the channel 18 is bent to a generally rectangular form with outwardly curved opposite end portions 24, 24 and substantially straight side portions 26, 26. Adjacent free end portions of the channel 18 may be connected toegther in a suitable manner by means not shown. As best shown in FIG. 8, the channel 18 has a core member 28 disposed therewithin and which extends throughout the length thereof. The bristles or fibers 14, 14 are bent back upon themselves about the core 28 and they project through the open side of the channel 18 in operative positions. Crimping of the channel 13 along longitudinal lines 30 and 32 may be accomplished to retain the core 28 and the folded portions of the bristles or fibers therewithin.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 7, the headplate 20, which is preferably of sheet metal, is generally rectangular in top plan view and opposite side edge portions 34, 3 thereof, FIG. 8, are bent around and in engagement with central sections of the straight side portions 26, 26 of the channel 1%. Four similar tabs 36, 36 on the headplate 23 are also bent around said central sections of the channel 13 and they engage the channel on sides opposite the plate portions 3 34. The said portions 34, 34 and the tabs 36, 36 serve to secure the headplate and the channel 18 in fixed assembly whereby to form a brush and head structure attachable as a whole with a brush handle.

As will be seen, the aforementioned bolt or stud 22 serves as a first clamping member utilized in attaching the assembled brush, brush channel, and headplate to a handle. More specifically, the said bolt or stud serves as a clamping member in attaching the said assembly to a handle connector indicated generally at 38. The stud 22 is threaded for engagement with a second clamping member comprising a wing nut 40 and is fixedly connected to the headplate 2%). As shown, a shoulder 42 on the stud engages an outer surface of a central portion of the headplate 2% ad acent an opening in the headplate suitable for receiving the stud. A peened head 44 on the stud or bolt 22 engages an inner surface of the headplate adjacent said opening whereby to fixedly secure the stud to the headplate and its associated parts.

The handle connector 38 is preferably constructed of sheet metal and has a rear generally cylindrical hollow portion 45 adapted to receive a front end portion of a relatively long brush handle 48. For securing the handle connector to the handle, the said rear portion 46 may be offset into a suitable handle recess as indicated at 50. A front end portion 52 of the connector is fiaired laterally outwardly from the rear portion 46 thereof to a generally rectangular plan form as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Said front end connector portion 52 has similar opposing side walls 54 and 56 which are formed at inner edges 53 and 69 to approximately fit the outer surface of the headplate 20. In addition, the side walls 54 and 56 extend outwardly or above a first clamping surface 62 formed therebetween and facing outwardly on the connector front end portion 52. Thus, the walls 54 and 55 may be fairly characterized as upstanding side walls bounding the clamping surface 62. Said surface is further bounded by an upstanding or outwardly projecting rear wall 64 formed on the front end portion 52 of the connector 38. The said rear wall is curved rearwardly and blends and cooperates with the side walls 54 and 5a; to define a generally U-shaped recess which has the clamping surface 62 as its floor or bottom wall.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the outwardly facing clamping surface 62 on the front end portion 52 of the handle connector 38 has an opening 66 therein for receiving the projectin shank portion of the stud or bolt 22. When the handle 48, the handle connector 38, and the aforementioned brush head structure 16 and brush are assembled, the stud 22 projects outwardly through the opening 66 and the wing nut it? may be threaded thereon as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the brush parts mentioned can be clamped together in operative positions with the brush working surface arranged in a plane which is angularly related to both the longitudinal center line of the brush handle 48 and a plane normal to said center line. Such angle, best illustrated in FIG. 1, is found to provide for efiicient operation and convenient manipulation of the brush.

In its assembled position, the front end portion 52 of 3 the handle connector 38 presents a clamping surface in addition to the outwardly facing clamping surface 62. Here the forwardly facing narrow edge surface 68 is referred to, it being observed that the said surface is exposed and arranged substantially at right angles with respect to the first-mentioned clamping surface 62. Further it will be observed that the side Walls 54 and 56 and the rear wall 64 bounding the clamping surface 62 may be fairly characterized as additional clamping surfaces. In the presently preferred form of the invention, all of said clamping surfaces 62, 68, 54, 56, and. (:4 may be utilized in effecting a detachable but nevertheless positive connection of the aforementioned squeegee 12 with the assembled brush, handle connector and brush handle.

The squeegee 12 includes an elongated flexible squeegee element 70 which is shown as being generally rectangular and which has an integral enlarged partially cylindrical bead 72 along one longitudinal edge portion. The opposite longitudinal edge portion of the squeegee element 70 serves as a working portion of the element with the bead 72 entered and held in an elongated channel 74. The channel 74 is preferably formed of sheet metal and has a partially cylindrical body portion 76 adapted to receive and approximately fit the bead 72. A first integral flange portion 78 of the channel 74 lies adjacent but is curved gradually away from the squeegee element 70 to provide for flexing of the squeegee element during operation. A second and opposite integral flange or flange portion Si) is somewhat shorter than the flange portion 78 and substantially flat and engages the squeegee element on the side opposite the said first flange portion.

The squeegee element 70 may be secured in fixed assembly with the channel 74 by frictional forces or, as shown, small offsets may be provided as at 32 for more positive holding action. With the squeegee element and the channel assembled, said two elements can be assembled with a squeegee handle indicated generally at 84 by means of a suitable clamping means to be described.

The squeegee handle 84 is preferably formed of sheet metal and has a front end portion 86 of generally triangular shape. A front edge portion 88 of the front end portion 86 is formed to approximately fit one-half of the body portion 7 6 of the channel 74 and an inner portion of the first channel flange'78. Said portion 38 is preferably engaged with the channel 74 approximately at the center of the channel but, alternatively, the channel and squeegee element 70 may be extended to one side for connection with the handle 84. In preferred form, clamping means for securing the squeegee handle 84 to the channel 74 and the squeegee element 70 includes a clamping plate 90, a stud 92, and a Wing nut 94.

The clamping plate 90 is preferably formed of sheet metal and is generally triangular in shape as best shown in FIG. 2. Said plate has a front edge portion 96 which approximately fits a half section of the body portion 76 of the channel 74 and an inner portion of the second channel flange 80. A short rear wall on the clamping plate 90 engages the front end portion 86 of the squeegee gagement of the wing nut 94 with the plate, the aforesaid pivot surface on the wall 98 causing the front end portion 96 of the plate to securely clamp the channel 74 and squeegee element 70 in engagement with the front edge portion 88 of the squeegee handle.

The squeegee handle 84 also includes a central portion 102 and a rear end portion 104. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the central portion 102 of the handle is generally d cylindrical in cross section with a somewhat flattened inner surface 102 The rear end portion 104 of the handle 84 is approximately semi-cylindrical in cross section and it also has a somewhat flattened inner surface 104*. Said two portions 102 and 104 of the squeegee handle cooperatively form a substantially smooth hand-gripping or hand-engaging surface rendering the squeegee 12 well suited to independent use. In addition, the rear portion 104 of the squeegee handle is particularly adapted for connection with the aforementioned handle connector 38.

A portion of the somewhat flattened inner or inwardly facing surface 104 disposed rearwardly of two similar offsets 1%, 106 serves as an inwardly facing clamping surface engageable with the aforementioned outwardly facing clamping surface 62 on the handle connector 38. Cooperating with said portion of the surface 104 is a second clamping surface arranged substantially at right angles with respect thereto and said surface preferably comprises the narrow rearwardly facing edge surfaces 103, 108 of the offsets 106, 106. In FIG. 6 one olfset 106 is shown in section and it will be observed that the surface 103 takes the form of a narrow sheared edge surface which joins a gradually curved connecting surface 110. The latter surface extends forwardly and blends with the aforementioned flattened surface 102 The olfsets 136, 106 are preferably spaced apart transversely as shown and the clamping surface or surfaces 108, 108 facing rearwardly thereon engage the aforementioned narrow forwardly facing clamping surface 68 on the front end portion 52 of the handle connector when the squeegee handle is attached to said handle connector.

In accordance with the invention, detachable connection of the squeegee handle 8'4 with the handle connector 33 may be effected selectively by means of the aforementioned stud 22 and wing nut 40. The clamping surface 104 of the rear portion 104 of the squeegee handle has an opening 112 therethrough adapted to receive the stud 22. As best shown in FIG. 8, the outer end portion of the stud 22 can project through the said opening 112 so that the Wing nut 40 can be threaded thereon the into engagement with the outer surface of the rear end portion 104 of the squeegee handle. When the nut is threaded into such clamping position, the aforementioned surfaces 62 and 164 and the the surfaces 108,

108, and 68 are engaged to secure the squeegee handle against movement relative to the handle connector 58.

In addition, the rear end portion 104 of the squeegee handle 84 is provided with a rearwardly curved end wall 114 and said wall engages the aforementioned rear Wall 64 on the handle connector to further secure the squeegee handle against relative movement. Still further, side portion portions 116, 116, FIG. 5, of the rear end portion 104 of the squeegee handle clampingly engage the aforementioned upstanding side walls 54 and 56 on the connector 38. Removal of the squeege from the connector 38 and the associated brush parts may obviously be readily effected by removal of the wing nut 40 and, the said connector may thereafter be secured to the said brush parts by re-engagement of said wing nut and stud as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be observed that the squeegee 12 is held in operative position with the squeegee element 70 extending substantially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal center line of the brush handle 48. Said element is, however, spaced laterally from said center line and is inclined at a conventient working attitude.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a combined window washing brush and squeegee of simple and yet durable construction has been provided. Detachable connection of the squeegee to the assembled brush is conveniently effected without the use of any additional connecting devices, the stud 22 and the Wing nut 40 fulfilling this function as described. In addition, a plurality of interengageable clamping surfaces have been provided to assure a positive and yet readily detachable connection of the squeegee and brush. As a result, there is no significant possibility of accidental or unintended angular displacement of the squeegee handle about the stud 22 or of any other movement of the squeegee relative to the brush.

When the squeegee is detached from the assembled brush, it is yet well suited to independent use. A substantially smooth hand-gripping or hmd-engageable surface is provided on the handle 84. The necessary clamping surfaces 168, 198 are provided as required on the offsets 106, 165 and there is yet no significant possibility of irritation of the users hand by said edges. The normal working stroke of the squeegee is a pulling stroke. Thus, the users hand will tend to move rearwardly, if at all, along the squeegee handle. In rearward movement, the hand encounters only the gradually curved connecting surfaces 110, 110 on the offsets 1%, 1% and it does not engage the edge surfaces 188, 108 so as to cause chafiing. No forward movement of the users hand along the squeegee handle is to be encountered in ordinary use.

The invention claimed is:

A squeegee usable independently and in assembly with a window washing brush including a sheet metal handle connector which has an outwardly facing clamping surface bounded by similar upstanding side walls and a rear- Wardly curved upstanding rear wall and provided with an opening for receiving a brush connecting stud and which also has a narrow forwardly facing edge surface usable as a clamping surface and disposed substantially normal to said outwardly facing clamping surface; said squeegee comprising a flexible elongated generally rectangular squeege element, an elongated sheet metal channel for receiving and holding a longitudinal edge portion of said squeegee element, a sheet metal handle having a generally triangular front end portion adapted for engagement with said channel, and releasable clamping means for securing said front end portion of said handle to said channel and squeegee element, said handle also having central and rear end portions respectively of generally cylindrical and generally semicylindrical cross section which cooperatively form a substantially smooth gripping surface and the latter of which has a rear-Wardly curved outwardly projecting end wall and a spaced pair of inwardly offset sections with coplanar rearwardly facing sheared edge surfaces, said sheared edge surfaces being substantially normal to an inwardly facing portion of said gripping surface therebehind and said two surfaces and said portion of said gripping surface being engageable respectively with said forwardly and outwardly facing clamping surfaces on said handle connector, opposite sides of said rear handle portion and said end wall thereon being engaged respectively with said side and rear walls on said handle connector when said clamping surfaces are engaged, and said rear end portion of said handle also having an opening through said inwardly facing portion of said gripping surface which registers with said connector opening to receive said brush connecting stud when all of said connector and handle surfaces are engaged as stated. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 

